Couple Who Won $180 Million After Their Granddaughter Died Of Disease Spend Money To Find Cure

Their granddaughter, Makayla Lynn Pike, was just two years old when she died in 2003 from Krabbe Disease, a rare genetic disorder that typically claims lives before the age of two by destroying nerve cells' protective coating.

In 2008, on the fifth anniversary of Makayla's passing, the Rosenau's life took a dramatic turn. 

They won a massive $180.1 million in the Powerball. 

Credit: Rosenau Family Research Foundation

The Minnesota couple immediately knew how they wanted to use their fortune. 

They set up a non-profit, the Rosenau Family Research Foundation, with a $26.4 million investment to fund research for Krabbe Disease and assist families with medical treatment costs.

On their website's 'Our Story' section, they expressed their belief that the lottery win was a divine message. 

"Realizing they had an opportunity to have an impact and make some sense out of their granddaughters’ early death, their faith took over."

"They knew their lottery winning wasn’t luck, but a direct message from God, about the opportunity for them to shine a light on this nearly invisible disease and infuse funding into research for finding therapies and treatments so no other family had to go through what they did."

Credit: Rosenau Family Research Foundation

Eight years after their win, Sue told PEOPLE, "We are faithful people, and we definitely believe this is God telling us what we do."

After taxes, the couple was left with $44 million from their 'quick-pick cash option' ticket. 

They invested over half of this in their non-profit. 

"I found out there was a little person in that body and she couldn't get out, we're trying to give these kids the ability to get out," Paul said.

From 2009 to 2016, the foundation awarded over $10 million in grants to researchers, pushing forward advances in treatments for Krabbe Disease, though a cure is yet to be found.

Credit: Rosenau Family Research Foundation

Current treatments for Krabbe Disease focus on managing symptoms, like medication for muscle spasms and seizures, along with physical therapy, occupational therapy, and palliative care.

A significant breakthrough in gene therapy in 2016 gave researchers and medical experts new hope. 

Dr Maria Escolar, one of Makayla's doctors and a key researcher, expressed deep gratitude for the support: 

"Without this type of help, we would not be able to achieve our goal of improving the quality of life for children with rare disorders and help them develop to their full potential. We are beyond grateful."

Makayla's mother, Stacy Pike, echoed this sentiment, saying, "Their mission is near and dear to my heart."

Credit: Rosenau Family Research Foundation

The Rosenau's dedicated themselves full-time to the cause, but in 2016, Sue had to reduce her involvement due to treatments for stage 3 ovarian cancer and stage 4 uterine cancer.

Tragically, Sue passed away in 2018. 

However, the mission they started continues to live on through Paul and the dedicated researchers working tirelessly to find a cure for Krabbe Disease. 

Their journey from lottery winners to philanthropists symbolizes hope and determination in the face of adversity, striving to prevent other families from experiencing the pain they endured.